After carrying the ball 256 times during the regular season, the Rams running back had just four carries in the NFC Championship game.

Gurley continues to say he was not injured but merely played poorly.

Now that Super Bowl week media availability is finished and there are no more interviews, we are unlikely to get any new information.

So what is the truth?

Gurley was dealing with left knee inflammation and was given the final two weeks of the regular season off. Combined with the first-round bye, he had nearly a month of rest.

He played well in the divisional round with 16 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys.

Then came the two dropped passes and a total of five touches against the Saints. Anderson was on the field for most of that game while Gurley was on the sideline stretching and using the exercise bike. Gurley did score on a six-yard run.

Kudos to Gurley for not making any excuses. He had a built-in one that he has gone out of his way to debunk.

For what it’s worth, the Rams have been relatively forthcoming about injuries under head coach Sean McVay. And undoubtedly, the Patriots are going to prepare for a healthy Gurley and C.J. Anderson.

The real issue is what part of Gurley’s knee is inflamed. If this is related to his previous ACL on the same left knee, that heightens the worry.

My suspicion, based on video review, is he has tendonitis, perhaps of the patella tendon. Video did not show a play with traumatic injury. And his frequent trips to the exercise bike and use of heat would support the tendonitis analysis. If it was structural, wear and tear or related to his ACL, he likely would not take those courses of action.

Patella tendonitis is something he will play through, and I expect a performance closer to the division round than championship game.